I believe it would be my responsibility to get involved in activities that promote the inclusion of the diversities of culture, ethnicity and gender that exist on campus. Issues related to diversity can be found in the Greek community, in the classroom environment, and in all sorts of campus-wide groups.  To create a change in this area, I will make it a point to go to group meetings of students of different ethnicities that are working toward cultural acceptance and help them get their ideas heard by the rest of the student body.

I will make an effort to make the students more aware of the issue of sexual violence and its many occurrences, and regularly encourage students to put their safety first, especially anytime alcohol is involved. Having done the STARR program as a freshman, I am a heavy advocator that both women and men attend this self-defense class offered by the UKPD, or other self-defense programs. I believe that constant reminders for safety, warnings of the punishment to those who promote violence, and a chilling awareness of how prominent violence on campus really is would be a leap in the right direction toward putting an end to violence.

The student government should work closely with the state by writing letters, signing petitions and frequently visiting Frankfort and forming relations with state legislators to let them know that we stand firm in our belief that higher education is a necessity in today’s society and their budget should not come from continually raising college tuition.

To increase voter education, the student government could create a website or pamphlet about the importance of participation, stressing that one vote goes a long way. It should show students how low the percentage of young voters is in America and why it is crucial to let their opinions be known through their vote.  It is important to have diversity of voters as well to ensure that our leaders are most suitable to provide for everyone in this large and diverse campus, and especially for this large and diverse state and country.

I do not have much knowledge of working with this organization, but I believe that I would meet with their management to ensure that off campus student housing is made convenient and affordable for our students and bring any problems with landlords to their attention.  I expect that all student housing should be well kept and be in safe locations that are well lit.

I feel that through my education and experience I already have a strong knowledge base of most of these issues, but I would really like to have more first hand experience with groups different from my own.  I will commit myself to attending group functions of different diversities and sexual orientations and get to know people from these groups and understand their wants and needs and what they think student government could do to help them have the best college experience.

I believe that recycling is very important and I am highly disappointed with the amount of opportunity to recycle on campus.  I would LOVE to find a way to provide recycling to all Greek housing, to off campus housing and to get bins put around all over campus and to work with the recycling company to make sure they comply. I also think it would be great to get more students to use bikes around campus. I myself am a victim of feeling like I’d definitely be made fun of if my friends saw me on a bike to class. So with that in mind, I would like to work with student government to find a new idea to make biking the cool thing to do; while secretly making UK more green-friendly.

I think it would be a crime to let anyone log any section of the Robinson Forest.  This area in eastern Kentucky dates back many years and has since been a site of education and research for students from the UK forestry department, high school field trips and other research groups.  It is surrounded by the devastating sight of surface mines and should remain a breath of fresh air, not to be disturbed or damaged in any way. I would be glad to voice my opinion to a higher administrative position at UK, but not that of someone who thinks logging should happen.

I plan to find the students at Kentucky that have never been involved in anything and give them a reason to want to be involved in something. I feel that this campus has so much room for opportunity and growth that so many students don’t even know about or take advantage of. My number one priority is to constantly push information on people, by fliers, by word of mouth, by e-mail, by informing teachers, and any other means to make sure everyone is aware of the biggest issues on this campus including safety, diversity, voting, involvement, political issues, green-friendly opportunities, etc. and making real results for Kentucky.